Trevor James Bond

Providing online access to historic films at the Washington State University Libraries

Purpose – This paper aims to discuss the procedures and methods developed at Washington State University to digitize and make accessible historic moving images.Design/methodology/approach – The paper describes the selection and the use of low‐cost technologies to transfer analog film to digital formats. Issues related to the conversion, description, and online hosting of digital films are also addressed.Findings – Though the steps involved in digitizing film are not trivial, the benefits of access both for the public and archives staff outweigh the expense and labor involved. The procedures described in this paper involve low upfront costs and are sustained through cost recovery fees.Research limitations/implications – The focus of this paper is on managing, describing, and providing online access to historic films, not digital preservation.Originality/value – There is a gap in the library literature regarding the practical steps involved in reformatting and hosting online film collections. This paper des...

A dialog on teaching an undergraduate seminar in special collections

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to provide a model for the collaborative teaching of undergraduates in special collections and demonstrates how providing students with the opportunities to work rare books can result in meaningful experiences for both students and faculty.Design/methodology/approach – Collaborative teaching across disciplines, in this case an English faculty member and a librarian can be challenging and rewarding. This paper is written in dialogue form and highlights both perspectives.Findings – For academics and librarians interested in incorporating book history and special collections in undergraduate coursework, this paper underscores the benefits and pitfalls in planning such courses.Practical implications – This is an honest discussion on methods to engage undergraduates with rare books and exhibit preparations.Originality/value – As many library professionals seek to make their rare book collections more accessible through class instruction, this paper provides one pedagogica...

Streaming audio with synchronized transcripts utilizing SMIL

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to describe developmental work with SMIL (Synchronized Multimedia Integration Language) to synchronize transcript captions with streaming audio.Design/methodology/approach – This paper provides an evaluation of the hardware/software required to digitally record oral histories and the methods developed at WSU to customize the presentation of streaming audio and text.Findings – Though providing users with streaming media content is not excessively expensive, the multifaceted work‐flow of organizing an oral history project, utilizing digital recording equipment, preparing transcripts, and synchronizing those transcripts with their corresponding audio files, is a complex, labor‐intensive undertaking.Practical implications – This is an extremely common‐sense discussion of the time and work involved in planning digital projects that involve streaming media with captions.Originality/value – As many libraries enhance digital collections with streaming media, this article pro...

Streaming audio from African‐American oral history collections

Through the use of OCLC/DiMeMa’s CONTENTdm software and a RealSystems Server 8, this article outlines the process of converting two collections of African‐American oral histories recorded on cassette tapes to digital streaming files at the Washington State University Libraries.

Visual image repositories at the Washington State University Libraries

The World Civilizations Image Repository (WCIR) and Photos Online are two collaborative image database projects under way at the Washington State University (WSU) Libraries. These projects demonstrate how the WSU Libraries have employed OCLC/DiMeMas (Digital Media Management) CONTENTdm in partnership with other University departments to develop visual collections free from copyright restrictions, as well as to manage “born digital” images on a collaborative basis.

Sustaining a digital collection after the grants: the Early Washington Maps Project

OCLC Systems & Services Services International Digital Library Perspectives, v. 22, no. 1 (2006).

Collection development for digital photographs

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to discuss the challenges involved in collecting and managing digital photographs and provide advice for librarians in appraising, formulating collection development policies, and negotiating gifts of digital photographs.Design/methodology/approach – The ideas in the article are based on authors work with digital photographs at Washington State University and research for a workshop taught through the OCLC Western office on digital photograph collections including long term preservation and management.Findings – By careful appraisal of digital photographs including the consideration of image format, descriptive and technical metadata, and the development of collection development policies, library professionals will ensure that they develop viable collections of digital photographs.Practical implications – The paper is a very commonsense guide for librarians and visual image curators who are charged to manage and develop collections of digital photographs.Originalit...